Ile des Pins (Isle of Pines) is a 20 minute airflight or a 2.5hr ferry ride from Noumea. As the ferry doesn't travel everyday we opted to fly over, spend a night there and catch the evening ferry back. It is a beautiful island with fine white sand and very clear water (and pretty well covered with pine trees). It has been described as a paradise on earth etc etc - its is definitely a beautiful place. We spent our time lazing on the beaches, swimming and a little bit of exploring - visiting the overgrown convict prison buildings. From the 1860s until the end of the transportations in 1897, about 22,000 criminals and political prisoners were sent to New Caledonia.
Beach at Kuto Bay across the road from our resort
Quite crowded eh?
Ferry to Noumea waiting at wharf before tsunami warning
sunset from the dining balcony
French Convict Prison
External windows and bars
What was to be a highlight was a visit to Piscine Naturelle, a natural swimming pool in a shallow enclosed lagoon connected to the ocean through a series of narrow caves. A small bus from the hotel took us over to the start point where we had to walk though thigh deep water for about 15 minutes to reach the pool. After only 10 minutes enjoying it we were confronted by a lady from the hotel telling us all to get out and hurry back to the pick-up point as a tsunami was expected. Naturally enough we did ( I even received two text messages from the Australian Govt on my mobile telling us to hightail it off the beaches!). The bus then took us to a dusty hilltop where we mingled with the locals and others from hotels for about 2 hours until the all clear was given). To top it off we had another 90 minute wait for the ferry as it had headed out to sea until the all clear!
Piscine Naturelle
Piscine Naturelle - didn't have time for any more!
The stragglers making their way back during "evacuation"
Some of the cars, etc on the hilltop - kids soon had games going.
Gail reliving her glory day at the Texas Show (old old story)
We spent our time lazing on the beaches, swimming and a little bit of exploring - visiting the overgrown convict prison buildings.
From the 1860s until the end of the transportations in 1897, about 22,000 criminals and political prisoners were sent to New Caledonia.
What was to be a highlight was a visit to Piscine Naturelle, a natural swimming pool in a shallow enclosed lagoon connected to the ocean through a series of narrow caves. A small bus from the hotel took us over to the start point where we had to walk though thigh deep water for about 15 minutes to reach the pool. After only 10 minutes enjoying it we were confronted by a lady from the hotel telling us all to get out and hurry back to the pick-up point as a tsunami was expected. Naturally enough we did ( I even received two text messages from the Australian Govt on my mobile telling us to hightail it off the beaches!). The bus then took us to a dusty hilltop where we mingled with the locals and others from hotels for about 2 hours until the all clear was given).
To top it off we had another 90 minute wait for the ferry as it had headed out to sea until the all clear!